Busy daily routines demand an environment conducive to peace and concentration, leaving no room for acoustic compromises.

Optimal acoustics enhance our ability to concentrate, increase efficiency, and improve overall well-being. To achieve acoustics tailored to the specific use of a space, sound-absorbing materials must be added to the environment.

“Metal and acoustics are rarely mentioned in the same sentence—at least not outside of DAMPA,” says Mogens Kjærgaard, Product Manager at the metal and acoustics company DAMPA ApS, before continuing:

It’s quite unfortunate because by perforating a metal sheet—which logic might tell us is sound-reflective and not sound-absorbing—we create a resonance absorber combined with a membrane absorber. When sound waves hit the resonance absorber, the small air plugs in the perforated holes vibrate, countered by the air behind the plate. This air acts like a spring, seeking to return the now-vibrating air plugs to their resting position, thereby opposing the movement of the sound waves.

This process allows for sound absorption even in low-frequency ranges. When the resonance absorber is combined with a soft porous absorber, such as acoustic felt or mineral wool, we get a solution that offers the best of all three absorber types, allowing the acoustics to be tailored to the specific needs of the room. Thanks to the properties of metal, acoustic solutions can be achieved in all absorption classes—even Class A,” concludes Mogens.

The Properties of Metal

Due to the characteristics of metals, an acoustic solution from DAMPA offers several advantages:

• Long Lifespan: Due to the properties of metals, DAMPA acoustic ceilings are certified to last a minimum of 50 years.
• Circular Solutions: Metal can be recycled repeatedly without leaving the circular sustainable loop.
• Design Flexibility: The surface of the metal offers unique design possibilities, making it possible to achieve an acoustic solution with either a natural metal finish or in one of many RAL and NCS colours.
• Acoustic Classes A, B, or C: Thanks to perforations and various backing materials, we can produce our ceilings in Class A, B, or C—so you get acoustics precisely tailored to the room’s use and the needs of its occupants.

Optimise Acoustics in Existing Spaces

DAMPA acoustic solutions are ideal for consideration before the start of the project and after spaces have been occupied, such as during the renovation of older rooms that must meet modern acoustic standards. It is recommended, for instance, that sound-absorbing material equivalent to approximately 20% of the room’s floor area be added to the walls to achieve optimal acoustics.

For this purpose, DAMPA’s wall panels, DAMPA® Silent Board, are ideal. This solution is easy to install, offers high design flexibility, and is robust, ensuring it optimises acoustics even in busy and exposed areas.

This article was originally published in Byggeri+Arkitektur—read the full article here.